My names Alex and I'm quitting AW

[possum]

How is wanting an older man a great quality?. Clearly, it's just a matter of personal preference..

[Doll]

Meh, I am not sure you would find many men anywhere in the world who would not value those characteristics.

Sure- most of men like it but why to seek for these characteristics in a certain country? So there is something else.

[I/O]

The size of the country has nothing to do with mentality.

'Fraid to burst the bubble m' dear, but it does, big time. The vastness of Russia is also marked by a vast range of mentalities which do vary markedly from area to area. BTW there is another side to this and that is the guys pontificating and saying RW are this...........or RW are that............I wonder sometimes which RW they are speaking of. One would have to be blind, deaf and maybe dumb not to notice at least some of those differences as one moves across Russia (I've been guilty of generalisations on this one also, but when considered carefully they are neither right nor fair).

Again- FORGET the word TRADITIONAL! I never use it! It is a very loaded notion and I asked pages  :)ago to explain it to me.

I can't explain it because I haven't encountered it and frankly, I don't think it exists, at least as the agencies would have people believe.

I/O

[Doll]

  The vastness of Russia is also marked by a vast range of mentalities

Like what? The major difference is between rural and urban areas but not between Siberia and Rostov.

[Doll]

I wonder sometimes which RW they are speaking of

Me too. The ones they meet (0.00000000000000000000000001 of population  ) or those images from TV or agencies ads?
 I have been b-tched  here more than one time for  generalisations though I was born there and lived for 43 years 
People here dare to say I don't know RW. Sure!

[I/O]

The major difference is between rural and urban areas but not between Siberia and Rostov.

OK, we are now agreed on the point there is differences, we're making progress here. I can't comment on Rostov because I have not spent any amount of time in that area, but I can comment on Siberia and I see a great variety of thinking moving from city to city without even considering the difference between rural and urban. I wonder how much of the motherland you've actually spent time in or even seen, particularly recently? The argument, "I am Russian so I know all about Russia" doesn't cut it. It is as thinly based as me saying, I'm Australian, I've lived here for 43 years (Which I have), so I know how all Australian men think. 

or those images from TV

LOL.........good point. For me, those TV images are of 70 Y/O, scarf wearing Babushka's with no front teeth, pulling potatos near some broken down dacha. (Enough to frighten any red blooded guy away for life)

I/O

[Doll]

OK, we are now agreed on the point there is differences, we're making progress here

Dear,  we are not making progress here- there are differences between rural and urban mentality in ANY (even tiny) country. It has nothing to do with the size.

I wonder how much of the motherland you've actually spent time in or even seen, particularly recently?

Quite a bit. More than anybody on this board.

The argument, "I am Russian so I know all about Russia" doesn't cut it.

It sure does! Though I didn't say "all about Russia" Come on!

[possum]

Folks, don't diss scarf wearing gardening babushkas.. They are still very much a part of the Russian landscape, and without them things just wouldn't be the same..

[I/O]

we are not making progress here

Ok, if that suits you, I can be comfortable with that. You know I don't know and I think you don't know quite as much as you would like everyone to believe. I'm happy with that result. Those of us who have been in this caper for a while actually know that very few smoking hot 20Y/O RW are interested in being the subserviant house bound puppet the agencies would like us to believe and you seem to be under the impression no WM understands. In similar words to your own, Do you have anything new to tell us?

It has nothing to do with the size.

LOL, women say that when they are talking in men's company, but a little birdie tells me they speak differently when talking among women.

Folks, don't diss scarf wearing gardening babushkas.. They are still very much a part of the Russian landscape, and without them things just wouldn't be the same..

Ex Smokinhotkovas?

I/O

[possum]

Ex Smokinhotkovas?

I/O

They are those who FEED the kova's and the Yuri's of this world..

[Doll]

Do you have anything new to tell us

I could but you have blocked all your hearing.
It reminds me the talk between the blind and the deaf.
Seriously, I don't get half of your remarks.
What do you mean by "new"? There is nothing new- go and read thousands of resarches .As far as we are here we all can say new things.
I don't understand your tone.

[KenC]

Folks, don't diss scarf wearing gardening babushkas.. They are still very much a part of the Russian landscape, and without them things just wouldn't be the same..

Possum,
Good point, but there was a time when that was the only face of Russian women used in the media here.  When my wife arrived here almost ten years ago, I told her as much.  No sooner did the words leave my lips than  CNN report came on TV and they ran a stock clip of an overweight babushka with missing teeth serving a plate of potatoes.  And THAT was how RW were presented to us Americans for many years.  I always joked that if we men knew how hot RW really were, the Cold War might have ended earlier.
KenC

[Doll]

 

It has nothing to do with the size.

LOL, women say that when they are talking in men's company, but a little birdie tells me they speak differently when talking among women.

 Mama mia!

[possum]

Possum,
Good point, but there was a time when that was the only face of Russian women used in the media here.  When my wife arrived here almost ten years ago, I told her as much.  No sooner did the words leave my lips than  CNN report came on TV and they ran a stock clip of an overweight babushka with missing teeth serving a plate of potatoes.  And THAT was how RW were presented to us Americans for many years.  I always joked that if we men knew how hot RW really were, the Cold War might have ended earlier.
KenC

LOL.. If it makes you feel better, the only images of America the Soviets were getting for a long, long time were those of blacks getting hassled by the white folk..

[KenC]

Possum,
We are all victims of our home country's slanted media to a point.  Being of Russian decent, I was always very leery of America's news on the Soviets during the late 50's and 60's.  But I was one of very few that questioned things back then.  Somehow I knew there was another version of the facts.  Now I tell Lena that she has her Russian version of history and I have my American version, but the truth is somewhere in the middle.
KenC

[mark2353]

And THAT was how RW were presented to us Americans for many years.  I always joked that if we men knew how hot RW really were, the Cold War might have ended earlier.

KenC
I was working at one of the national Labs and often would mention the same fact! Even point out that if the FSU was smart they would shown picts of these ladies and that would have been the end! Saved billions on both sides. I would get rather  strange looks still!
Mark

[Doll]

FSU IS smart- RW here are the secret weapon  No need for cold war

[KenC]

And THAT was how RW were presented to us Americans for many years.  I always joked that if we men knew how hot RW really were, the Cold War might have ended earlier.

KenC
I was working at one of the national Labs and often would mention the same fact! Even point out that if the FSU was smart they would shown picts of these ladies and that would have been the end! Saved billions on both sides. I would get rather  strange looks still!
Mark

Mark,
Think about it for a second, other than an occassional hot Russian babe depicted in a Bond movie, what good looking RW was in the news here before Anna Kornikova?
KenC

[KenC]

FSU IS smart- RW here are the secret weapon  No need for cold war

Then why didn't you use it 20 years ago?
KenC

[Doll]

Then why didn't you use it 20 years ago?
KenC

Internet was not so good 

[SANDRO43]

Internet was not so good 

You should have taken over the 1st May parade, that received sufficient Western TV coverage to make an impression . Is that period warm enough in Moscow to march in bikinis ?

[possum]

Then why didn't you use it 20 years ago?
KenC

Thank God we didn't.. 'cause if we had, most women would have turned into gardening babushkas by now.. And that includes AW, too.. 

[Wienerin]

Frankly, I can't understand what all the flap is about  Stereotypes? But of course there are stereotypes! What else - when you're getiing into a new country and meet with people of different culture, different background, different life experiences, attitudes, reactions - even facial expressions and body language!

Just consider all the discussions about "traditional and universal" American "plastic/false" smiles and Russian stolid and grim expressions, especially in public places... let alone the "mysterious Slavic soul" 

We are all even prone to generalizations and sterotyping regarding our own people - just from the different parts of our own countries. There's no avoiding it, it's there and it's better to recognize it and adjust our approach based on the new experiences than make saintly miens and spout about "Me? Stereotyping? Not on your life, guys, I'm as broad-minded as Russian steppes" 

(more to follow  - stereorypes, of course)

[Doll]

Oh, these American smiles!

[mark2353]

Mark,
Think about it for a second, other than an occassional hot Russian babe depicted in a Bond movie, what good looking RW was in the news here before Anna Kornikova?
KenC

KenC
I am sorry but my memory of the russian ladies in the bond movies was not what I recall was displayed was a bunch of dikes! at best. The media did not show these ladies at their best! Maybe it was a blessing otherwise our liberal AW would have mess that up also!
mark